As a new wave of feminism sweeps the world and women are being heard more than ever, there is no better time than now to celebrate the movement and take action. Joining in the effort is Sandra Riley Tang, who continues to set an example by reshaping the way that women are being perceived today.

I AMSANDRA RILEY TANG

Apart from her musical career with popular Singaporean band The Sam Willows, she is also a yoga studio owner and martial arts practitioner who breaks convention to excel in a traditionally male-dominated sport, uprooting the stigma that women can be strong and independent.

“I BELIEVE THAT WOMEN SHOULD HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS AS WELL AS AN EQUAL VOICE.”

An inspiration to young women, Sandra encourages them to follow in her footsteps and fight for gender equality, so that women everywhere can have the same opportunities as men. Read her conversation with CHARLES & KEITH below to find out more about her beliefs, challenges and values.

How would you describe yourself, and your work, in a short succinct sentence?
I believe that I am a very passion-driven person and there are some risks that are worth taking no matter how big they are.

As a young woman in the entertainment industry, what are some of the challenges that you have faced?
When I first started out in the entertainment industry, there was an expectation for women to behave, look and speak a certain way, and I did not fit into that mould. However, times have changed and are still changing. Now that individuality is more widely celebrated, women are able to be and express themselves freely

Are there any feminist causes that you feel particularly strongly about and would like to play a part in?
The fight for equality for women to have the same opportunities as men. I think there should be more resources available to women to help them become more confident and self-sufficient. There should not be a stigma for women to be strong and able to take care of themselves.

This International Women’s Day, CHARLES & KEITH has put together an exclusive collection that features the light grey quilted bag and light grey quilted wallet to support the empowerment of women in all settings. As such, 20% of the proceeds from the sale of these items will go to Singapore Committee for UN Women to fund the organisation’s programmes and initiatives.